Item counter



June 1963 1. w. BORUTZKE 3,

ITEM COUNTER Filed 001.. 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l Mag/4M4 ATTOFNEY.

June 4, 1963 Filed Oct. 21, 1960 l. W. BORUTZKE ITEM COUNTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2.

INVENTOR.

/RV/N W BORUTZKE.

14 TTORNE Y.

June 1963 l. w. BORUTZKE 3,09

ITEM COUNTER Filed QGL. 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

234 /RV/N. W.BORUTZ/ E.

W244 KW ATTORNEY.

June 4, 1963 1. w. BORUTZKE 3,092,316

ITEM COUNTER Filed 001,. 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 By. 50 i 6 .4 34 Fly 28 42 1% INVENTOR.

IRVIN W. BORUTZKE.

ATTORNEY.

June 4, 1963 Filed 001,. 21, 1960 Fig. 7.

]. W. BORUTZKE ITEM COUNTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /75 INVENTOR.

IRV/N W BORUTZKE.

.nite States Patent 3,092,316 ITEM COUNTER Irvin W. Borutzke, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 64,019 7 Claims. (Cl. 23591) This invention relates generally to counting devices and particularly to item counters for use with business machines.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved item counting device having a control system responsive to the operation of the counting device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved item counting device for counting the cycles of operation of a shaft of any machine, such as an accounting, item sorting, or other business machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved electro-mechanical control system for counting wheels of an item counting device.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying five sheets of drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a counting device embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation and taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view;

FIG. 4 is an end View, taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a detail of the device and taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view partly in elevation and taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view partly in elevation and taken along the line 77 of FIG. 1;

. F IG. 8 is another sectional view partly in elevation and taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of a control system of the counting device, and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of another control system of the counting device.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the counting device includes a rotatable shaft 20 which may be journaled in spaced parallel side plates 22 and 24 of a suitable supporting structure or frame, the shaft having a bearing portion 25 of enlarged diameter. Fitted over the shaftzti, adjacent the side plate 24, there is a spacer sleeve 26 which is'fixed to the shaft, such as by a pin 28. Mounted on the enlarged bearing portion 25 of the shaft there is a bank of individually rotatable counting wheels comprising a units wheel 30, a tens wheel 32, and at hundreds wheel 34. Although three counting Wheels are shown in the present counting device, it will be apparent that more or less wheels may be used, as desired. A retainer 35 fixed onto shaft 28 by a set screw cooperates with the spacer 26 to limit axial move ments of the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34.

On the periphery of each of the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34 is provided teeth-like cams 36 which are radially and equally spaced therearound, and these cams in addition to performing camining functions, are respectively representative of the unit values of the decimal system. In the present counting device, there are twenty of the earns 36 on each of the counting wheels which, of course, means that a carry from a lower denominational wheel to the next higher denominational wheel must be effected each one-half revolution of the lower denominational wheel.

If desired, the number registered by the counting de- Ice,

vice may be recorded, such as by means of print wheels 38 which may be mounted for free and individual rotation on a fixed shaft 40 which in turn may be mounted on the side plates 22 and 24. The print wheels 38 each have radially spaced teeth and mesh respectively with the teeth-like cams 36 of respective ones of the counting Wheels 30, 32 and 34. Preferably, the print wheels 38 are of smaller diameter than the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34, the ratio preferably being 2 to 1. Accordingly, each of the print wheels 38 are provided with ten teeth which are representative of the digital values 0 to 9, and on the ends of the teeth are printing elements corresponding to said values. In starting or reset positions of the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34, the print wheels 38 will be in corresponding positions with the zero print elements presented to a suitable platen.

The counting wheels 30; 32 and 34 are coupled for individual rotation with shaft 20 by slip clutches, each of which includes a driving member or spring pressed deten: 44 between the shaft 20 and a hub 42 provided on each of the counting wheels. Radially disposed bores in the bearing 25 respectively receive the spring pressed detents 44 which are urged radially outwardly into engagement respectively with the hubs 42 of the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34. In each of the wheel hubs 42 there is a pair of diametrically opposite recesses 45' to alternately receive the ball detent 44, the recesses preferably being V-shaped.

As shown in FIG. 2, the counting wheel shaft 20' is driven from a continuously rotating driving shaft 46 through suitable driving connections including a belt 48, gears 50, 52 and a clutch 54. The clutch 54 is mounted on the shaft 28 and comprises a normally freely rotatable driving component 56 which carries gear 52, and a driven component 58 which is fixed to shaft 20. Any suitable clutch may be used, such as the clutch shown in FIGS.

144 to 146 and described in the patent to Thomas M.

Butler, No. 2,629,549.

Projecting radially outwardly from the side of the casing of clutch component 58 there is a clutch control arm 68 which is biased in a direction to effect engagement of the clutch 54. As shown in FIG. 2, the control arm 60 is normally restrained by a lug 62 on a shiftable slide 64 to hold the clutch disengaged. Substantially oppositely disposed from lug 62, a second lug 66 on the slide 64 is provided and normally is positioned outwardly of the path of rotation of lug 62. The control arm 60 and the pair of shiftable lugs 62 and 66 provide for controlling theclutch 50 so as to obtain a one-half revolution of the counting wheel shaft 20 each time the clutch is released. 'It will be apparent that on shifting of the slide 64 to the left, facing FIG. 2, the control arm 60 will be released by lug 62 to effect engagement of the clutch and at the same time, the lug 66 will be moved into position for abutment by the control arm 60* after rotation of the latter through 180. The slide 64 may be slidably supported on a pair of spaced pins 68, secured to and projecting laterally from saide plate 22. A tensioned coil spring 70 is provided to shift the slide 64 in a direction to release control arm '60, or to the left, facing FIG. 2.

Journaled on the side plates 22 and parallel with the counting wheel shaft 20 there is a cam shaft 72 having fixed thereon a cam 74 that shifts the slide 64 at the desired time. The cam 74 is operatively connected to the slide 64 by a cam follower 76 in the form of a lever which is pivoted at 78 on the side plate 22. The lever 76 has an arm 80 that preferably carries a roller 82 to engage the cam 74 and has a second arm 84 which engages an abutment or roller 86 on slide 64 such that rocking of the lever by the cam reciprocates the slide. A coil spring 88 biases the lever 76 in a direction to hold the cam follower roller 82 in contact with cam 74. It will be seen that on rotation of the cam 74 in a clockwise direction there is a slight dwell represented by the distance between roller 82 and the cam riser 8 9 when the cam 74 is at rest or starting position as shown in FIG. 2. Following the cam dwell the follower 8-2 engages the lower cam surface which releases the slide 64 whereupon spring '76 shifts the slide to the left to release clutch control arm 61 The low portion of the cam 74 is of uniform height for about 180 of rotation and during the first 180 of rotation of the cam, the clutch control arm 65 engages lug 66 whereupon the clutch 54 is disengaged. Following disengagement of clutch 54 by lug 66, the cam follower rides up onto the high surface of cam '74 and which causes the slide 64- to be shifted to the right facing PEG. 2 to effect engagement of the clutch until the clutch control arm 61) again is intercepted by lug 62. As will be hereinafter more fully described, the first half revolution of shaft 26 is utilized to rotate the counting wheels to effect a counting operation and the last half revolution of shaft 20 is utilized in the resetting of the cam wheels 30, 32 and 34 to their zero positions.

The cam shaft 72 is driven from the continuously rotating driving shaft 46 by a driving connection including a belt 90, gears 92, 94-, 96 and a one revolution clutch 98. The clutch 98 is similar to the previously described clutch 54 and comprises, in general, a driving clutch component 1G1! and a driven clutch component 102. The driving clutch component 1% is rotatably mounted on the shaft 72 and carries the gear 96, and the driven clutch component 102 is fixed onto the shaft 72.

A clutch control arm 1114 projects externally from the casing of the clutch driven component 1112 and is biased in a clockwise direction facing FIG. 2 to effect engagement of the clutch components 160 and .102. Normally, the clutch control arm i is held in its clutch disengaged position shown, by a lug 16 6 on a slide 108 which may be slidably supported on spaced pins 1119, secured to the frame side plate 2 2. The slide 1118 is shiftable to the right, facing FIG. 2, by an electrically operated actuator or solenoid 111), and is shiftable to the left by a coil spring 112. The solenoid 110 may be activated by any suitable control or switch 114 of the on-01f type such that closing of the switch contacts causes the solenoid to be pulsed whereby lug 106 is moved away from and releases clutch control arm 104- which is immediately followed by the return of the lug by spring 1 12 in time to intercept arm 111 's and thus limit rotation of shaft 72 to one revolution. Such an on-otf switch is diagrammatically represented in FIG. 1 as a push button type of switch, but it will be understood that any type of control may be employed to initiate cycling operation of the cam shaft 7 2.

A control system is provided to control rotation of the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34 to effect and register a count of 1 for each cycle of operation of the cam shaft '72. The control system includes three movable stop members or slides 116, 118 and .120 which are respectively provided for the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34 and may be supported for horizontal movement on pins 122, secured to the sideplate 22. The slides 116, 118 and 1 21} each have a reduced tapered end 124 and these slide ends are directed respectively toward and are adapted to engage between adjacent ones of pairs of the teeth-like earns 36 to stop the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34. Further, the slides 1 16, 118 and 120' are individually biased to their holding positions by suitable springs 126, tensioned to overcome the spring force of the slip clutch detents 44.

The slides 116, 1118 and 12d extend beneath and transversely of the cam shaft 72 and on this shaft there is a cam 130 which functions to retract the slides against opposition of the springs 126. The cam 133 is operatively connected to the slides 116, 1 18 and 121) by a baillike cam follower 132 which is pivoted on a pin 134 on the side plate 22. A downwardly directed arm 136 of the cam follower 132 carries a rod 138 that extends transversely of the slides 116, 118 and 121i and engages aligning shoulders provided in the upper edges of the slides. A second arm of the cam follower 132 preferably carries a roller 142 which is held in contact with the cam 1 311 by a tension spring 14 4- which has one end attached to the cam follower and the other end anchored to the side plate 22 by a pin 14 6.

The stop slides 116, 118 and are provided respectively with releasable holding or latch members 150, 152 and 154 which are preferably pivotal armatures of solenoids having coils 156, 158 and 16!} respectively. The solenoids are disposed respectively directly below the slides 116, 118 and 126 which have their lower edges notched to respectively receive the upper or free ends of the armatures 152 and 154 respectively. As will later be more fully understood, when cam 130 rotates, it releases the slides 116, 1 18 and 12d and the energized ones of the solenoids 156, 158 and 160 then assume the slide holding functions, the deenergized one or ones of the solenoids allowing their slides to be thrust against the corresponding ones of the count wheels 30, 32, 34 by the springs 126.

Further in accordance with the invention there are provided three controls or switches 162, 164 and 166 respectively to control the slide latches 150, 152 and 154. The switches 16 2, 164 and 166 are normally closed switches and are operatively connected to the cams 36 on the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34 respectively by cam followers 170 as shown in FIG. 3, the switches each having a switch operator 168. The cam followers 171 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 172 which in turn is mounted on the side plate 24. Each of the cam followers 170 has an arm 174 in abutting relation with its respective switch op erator 168, and a second arm 176 which carries a roller 178 which normally engages between adjacent ones of a pair of the cams 36 of the counting wheels 31}, 32 and 34 respectively. A coil spring 179 is provided for each .of the cam followers 170 to yieldingly hold the rollers 1'78 in contact with the earns 36 of respective counting wheels. As a counting wheel, for example, wheel 311 rotates the corresponding one of the cam followers 170, which is pivoted counterclockwise, facing FIG. 3. At about the time that the roller 178 reaches the high point of the effective one of the counting wheel cams 36, the normally closed switch 162 is opened which de-energizes solenoid 156 whereupon latch 150 releases the slide 116. The slide .116 is then moved to the left under the influence of the tension spring 126 to engage and limit rotation of wheel 30 to an angular movement equal to one cam or tooth of the wheel which, of course, corresponds to a count of one unit.

During the time that the units count wheel 30 rotates through the first nine count positions, the tens wheel 32 and hundreds wheel 34 are held against rotation by their respective slides 118 and 129 which are free to engage their respective wheels by reason of the fact that their solenoids 158 and 1611 are de-energized. In order to transfer a ten units count from units wheel 31} to tens wheel 32 and a ten-tenths count from tens wheel 32 to the hundreds wheel 34, a pair of switches 18d and 182 are provided for individually and respectively controlling the solenoids 158 and 161) in response respectively to the positions of the count wheels 30 and 32. To this end, the switches 180 and 182 are normally open switches and each has a switch operator 134 and 186 for operation respectively by levers 188 and 190 wlnch may be pivoted on a common shaft 191, mounted on side plate 24. On each of the count wheels 36, 32 and 34 there is a pair of laterally projecting abutment members or pins 192 and 194 which are diametrically oppositely disposed and which are in the position shown in FIG. 3 when the counting wheels are in zero or reset positions. The abutment members 192 and 194 are arranged such that they alternately engage and pivot the corresponding ones of the levers 188 and 190 each one-half revolution of the counting wheels or during movement of the print wheels from their 9 positions back to the zero positions.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 9, it will be seen that the normally open switch 180, which is actuated every one-half revolution of the units wheel 30, is in series circuit with the normally closed cam actuated switch 1640f the tens wheels 32 such that these switches mutually control rotation of the tens wheel. Similarly, switch 182 of the tens wheel 32 is in series circuit with cam operated switch 166 of the hundreds wheel 34 so as to mutually control rotation of the hundreds wheel. Thus, for each one-half rotation of a counting wheel, the highest denominational wheel excepted, a carry operation will be effected to the next higher denominational wheel.

In order to effect resetting of the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34, they are provided with homing or stop slides 200, 201, 203 which have corresponding ends 202 normally in the path of the wheel abutment members 192, as shown in FIG. 3. These slides 200, 201 and 203 may be slidably supported on horizontal pins 204, secured to and projecting laterally from the side plate 24. A timing cam 206 on cam shaft 72 operates the slides 2-00 and is operatively connected thereto by a bail-like cam follower 208 pivoted on a pin 205 which is fixed to and extends latterally from the side plate 24. One arm of the cam follower 208 carries a laterally positioned roller 212 that rides on cam 206, and another arm of the cam follower carries a laterally extending rod 214 that engages in like notches provided in the upper edges of the slides 200. The timing cam 206 is designed such that as the cam shaft 72 starts to rotate, the cam follower roller 212 immediately rides up the cam riser 207 which pivots lever 208 to retract the slides 200, 201 and 203. The earn- 206 holds the slides 200, 201 and 203 retracted for approximately 180 of rotation of shaft 20 following which the cam follower 212 rides down onto the lower surface of the cam to allow the homing slides 200, 201 and 203 to move back to their normal positions, as shown in FIG. 3, in the path of rotation of the count Wheel abutment pins 192, 194.

A retractable holding member or bail 220 is provided for the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34 and is pivotally mounted on a fixed shaft 222 which is secured to the side plate 24 and extends parallel to the counting wheel shaft 20. At its free end, the bail 220 has a laterally extending flange 224 which spans the three counting wheels 30, 32 and 34 and normally engages between adjacent ones of pairs of the cams 36 on the wheels. A tension spring 226 urges the bail 220 into holding engagement with the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34 with forces suflicient to overcome the frictional driving forces of the slip clutch detents 44. An actuator or solenoid 223 is operatively connected to withdraw the holding bail 220 from the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34 and is normally de-energized.

A holding relay 230 controls the solenoid 228 and the coil of the relay is connected across main power lines 232 and 234 by leads 236- and 238. The push button switch 114 has a pair of contacts 240' in lead 236 and thus in series with the coil of holding relay 230 and a second pair of contacts 242 in series with the coil of the solenoid 110 through leads 2-48 and 250. The fixed contact of the holding relay 230 is connected by a lead 252 to one end of the coil of solenoid 228 which has its other end connected by a lead 254 to main line 234, and the movable contact of holding relay 230* is connected by a lead 256 to the other main line 232. The lead 252 is also connected, as at 258, to lead 236 to provide a holding circuit for the relay 230 from main line 232 through lead 256, the contacts of holding relay 230', the holding relay coil and lead 238 to the other main lead 234. To break the holding circuit at the proper time to allow the holding bail 220 to return to holding relation with the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34, a timing cam 260 is provided on cam shaft 72. The cam 260 is designed such that it opens the contacts of the holding relay 230 to release the holding bail 220 in time to allow the holding bail to engage in the next succeeding space between the cams 36. Thus, when the button of starter switch 114 is depressed, contacts 242 close to cause solenoid to be pulsed and at the same time, push button switch contacts 240 close which causes the holding relay 230 to be energized, closing its contacts to energize the holding bail solenoid 228. Pulsing of the solenoid 110 activates the clutch 98 to initiate a cycle of operation of shaft 72 and energization of solenoid 223 retracts the holding bail 220. The cam 260 has a riser 262 which pivots an arm 264 to release an operator 266 of switch 230 which is biased to open circuit position.

In order to provide for resetting the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34, there is a second on-off or push button switch 282 for effecting energization of the clutch solenoid 110, holding bail solenoid 228 and a holding relay 284. The push button switch 282 has a set of normally open contacts 286 in a lead 283 which together with a lead 290 connects the coil of the holding relay 284 across the main lines 232 and 234. The fixed contact of the holding relay 284 is connected by a lead 292 to lead 252 and thus to line 234 through the coil of holding bail solenoid 228, and the movable contact of the holding relay 284 is connected by a lead 294 to lead 256 and thus to main line 232. A lead 2% provides a holding circuit for the holding relay 284 through the contacts thereof, the holding circuit including lead 290, the coil of the holding relay 21%, lead 2%, the contacts of the relay 234 and leads 294 and 256 to main line 232. A lead 314- connects lead 288 to lead 250 to establish a circuit including push button contacts 286 and the coil of solenoid 110. Thus, whenever the reset start switch 282 is pressed to close the contacts 286, the coil of the holding relay 284 is energized to close its contacts and energize the holding bail solenoid 228 and at substantially the same time, the coil of solenoid 110 is pulsed to activate the clutch 98 to start a cycle of rotation of shaft 72. A timing cam 316 is provided on the cam shaft 72 and is designed having a riser 318 to pivot an arm 320 which actuates a switch operator 322 to open the contacts and thus break the holding circuit of the holding relay 284. The riser 318 is located to effect opening of the contacts of switch 284 after an interval calculated to allow the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34 to rotate to their zero positions at which they are intercepted by the homing slides 120. When the contacts of the holding relay 284 are opened by the cam 316, the solenoid 223, FEGS. 3 and 10, is de-energized to allow the holding bail 220- to return, under the influence of its spring 2265, to holding relation with the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34.

Operation The description of operation of the item counting device starts with the assumption that the counting wheels 30, 32 and 34 are in their home or reset positions which, of course, means that all of the print wheels 38 are in their zero printing positionsv With reference first to FIG. 3, the operating parts of the counting device are in their normal positions, the stop slides 116, .118 and being held retracted solely by cam against the action or tension forces of springs 126. Also, it will be seen from a reference to FIG. 9 that only solenoid 156 is energized at this time and as a consequence only latch of the three electrically operated latches 150, 152 and 154 is in slide holding position. To effect a cycling operation of the cam shaft 72 and consequently a cycling operation of the counting device, the manually operable starter switch 114 is pressed which closes both sets of the contacts 240 and 242, the closing of contacts 24o causing the relay 230' to be energized and the closing of contacts 242 causing the solenoid 11b to be energized. Pulsing of the solenoid 110 shifts slide 1133 to release the one revolution clutch 93 and at about the same time, the closing of the contacts of relay 23% causes solenoid 228 to be energized and retract the holding bail 22-0 from the count wheels Sli 32 and 34. At the start of rotation of the cam shaft 72, the cam 134i moves away from the cam follower abutment 1 12, releasing the holding slides 116, 118 and 12b, and, at about the same time, cam 2% retracts the homing slides 22%, 2G1, 203. Also, at the start of rotation of the cam shaft 72, cam 7% (see FIG. 2), after a slight dwell acts through lever '76 to release slide 64 which activates clutch 54 to effect a onehalf revolution of the count Wheel shaft The slight delay effected by the dwell on cam 74 is provided to allow time for the homing slides 2% to clear the counting wheel abutments 1%.

Since, as previously mentioned, the solenoids 158 and lot of the holding slides 11% and 120 are not energized at this time, these slides are free when the high point of cam 13% moves away from the follower 142, and as a consequence, the slides are thrust by their springs 126 into holding engagement with the counting wheels 32 and 34 to hold the wheels against rotation by their slip clutch detents 44 for each counting operation until the units wheel 3t; moves from its 9 position back to its position. The solenoid 156 being always normally energized, as will be seen by reference to FIG. 9, holds slide 116 retracted to allow the units counting wheel 3b to be rotated. As the wheel 3% starts to rotate, it pivots lever 170, and, at about the time that the cam follower 178 reaches the high point on the effective one of the teethlike cams 36, lever 17% acting on switch operator 16 8, opens the normally closed switch 162. This deenergizes the solenoid 156 so as to release the slide 116 which is then thrust into holding engagement with counting wheel 30 to limit rotation thereof to a one tooth angular movement of the Wheel.

As the cam shaft '72 continues its cycle of rotation, cam 26% opens the contacts of relay 230* which breaks the holding circuit of the holding bail solenoid 228, allowing its biasing spring to return the holding bail 22% to holding engagement with the counting wheels 39, 32 and 34. This is followed by the return of the homing slides 260 to their normal positions shown in FIG. 3 and the retraction of the holding slides 116, 118 and 120'. Since the units wheel 3% has moved one tooth from its 0 position to its 1 position, the abutment 1% will now be past the end of the units wheel homing slide Zlltl, but this is of no moment, since the holding bail 220 functions to hold the counting wheels 3%, 32 and 34 against rotating when slides 116, 1:18 and 12% are retracted and the homing slides function only in the resetting of the counting wheels.

The above openation is repeated each time that the cycle starting switch 114 is closed and when the wheel 31) moves from the 8 to the 9 position, the wheel abutment 192 will engage and close switch 180 which will cause solenoid 158 to be energized. When the cycle switch 114 is again closed, the units wheel 3% will return to zero position and the tens wheel 32 will move to its 1 position, thus registering the number 10. As a consequence of the energization of solenoid 158, the tens wheel slide 118, in addition to the units slide 116 will be held retracted. The hundreds wheel holding slide 120 will be released as before, since its solenoid 169 is deenergized, so as to hold the hundreds wheel 34 against rotation, or in its zero position, but both the units Wheel 30 and the tens wheel 32 are free to rotate. These wheels 30 and 32 rotate together and upon rotating through an angular distance corresponding to onehalf the distance between the teeth-like earns 36, the levers 176 open the normally closed switches 162 and 1 54 which de-energizes the slides 116 and 118 are thrust by their springs 126 into holding engagement respectively with the units wheel 30 and the tens wheel 32 to limit rotation thereof to one tooth rotation for each. This rotates the tens wheel 32 to the 1 position while the units wheel returns to 0 position thereby to register 10. From the above, it will now be understood that when the units and tens wheel register 99, :a transfer operation will be effected by energizing the solenoid 15d of the hundreds bank, etc.

Resetting of the count wheels to their zero positions (see FIG. 10), may be eifected at any time by closing the reset switch 232. The closing of the reset switch 282 pulses the clutch solenoid 1:16 to initiate a cycle of operation and at the same time energizes the holding relay 284, which closes its contacts to energize the holding bail solenoid 223. The holding bail 220 is retracted by the solenoid 223 and the interval that it is held retracted is controlled by the cam 316. This cam is designed to open the contacts of the relay 284 to break the holding circuit of solenoid 2 28 after the abutment members 192 of the wheel or wheels, as the case may be, have returned to abutting relation with the ends of their respective homing slides 12%, 291, 2&3. It will be understood that the wheels 30, 32 and 34 are free to rotate during that portion of the reset cycle when the stop slides 1'16, 118 and and the homing slides 260 are retracted because at this time the holding bail 22d is also retracted on the resetting cycle of operation. The homing slides move back to their stop positions to intercept the abutments 192 on the Wheels and thereafter the holding bail 22G returns to its holding position following the opening of the contacts of relay 284- by cam 316.

What I claim is:

1. Counting apparatus for counting cycles of operation of a machine comprising a count wheel having a slip clutch connection with a cyclically operable driven means, a plurality of cam members radially and equally spaced on said wheel and representative of the units of a counting system, a stop member movable each cycle of operation between a normally retracted position and an effective position en aging between adjacent ones of a pair of said cam members to hold said wheel against rotation, a holder movable each cycle of operation from a normally effective position engaging and holding said wheel against rotation to a wheel release position and return to the holding position prior to retraction of said stop member, a latch member normally latching s aid stop member in retracted position, and a control member operatively connected to and controlling operation of said latch member and actuated by successive ones of said cam members as said wheel rotates.

2. Counting apparatus for counting cycles of operation of a machine comprising a cyclically driven shaft, a counting wheel on and having a slip clutch driving connection with said driven shaft, a plurality of radially and equally spaced cam members on said wheel and representative of the units of a counting system, a movable stop member biased to an effective position engaging between adjacent ones of a pair of said cam members to stop and hold said wheel against rotation and having a normally retracted ineifective position, means cyclically operable with said driven shaft and openable to retract said stop member, a rctnactable holder normally engaging and holding said wheel against rotation, means cyclically operable with said driven shaft to retract said holder on initiation of a cycling operation and release said holder prior to retnaction of said stop member, a latch member normally holding said stop member retracted, a control means cont-rolling said latch member and operatively connected to and for actuation by successive ones of said cam members.

3. Counting apparatus for counting cycles of operation of a machine comprising a cyclically driven shaft, a counting wheel on and having a slip clutch driving connection with said driven shaft, -a plurality of radially and equally spaced cam members on said wheel and representative of the units of a counting system, a movable stop member biased to an eflective position engaging between adjacent ones of a pair of said cam members to stop and hold said wheel against rotation and having a normally retracted ineffective position, means cyclically operable with said driven shaft and operable to retract said stop member, a retractable holder normally engaging and holding said wheel against rotation, means cyclically operable with said driven shaft to retract said holder on initiation of a cycling operation and release said holder prior to retraction of said stop member, an electrically operated latch member normally in effective position to restrain said stop member against movement to the effective position thereof, and switch means controlling said electrically operated latch member and operatively connected to and for actuation by successive ones of said cam members.

4. Counting apparatus for counting cycles of operation of a machine comprising a first driven shaft cycically openable with the machine, a second driven shatft cyclically operable with said first shaft, a count wheel on and having a slip clutch driving connection with said second shaft, a plurality of cam members equally and radially spaced on said wheel and representative of the units of a counting system, a movable stop member movable from a retracted position to a position engaging between adjacent ones of a pair of said cam members to stop and hold said wheel against rotation by the slip clutch connection, a latch member normally holding said stop member retracted and operable to release said stop member, means on said first shaft operable to retract said stop member and release said stop member in a retracted position to said latch member, a retractable holder normally engaging and holding said wheel against rotation, means on said first shaft operable to retract said holder on initiation of the cycling operation and to release said holder prior to retraction of said stop member, and a control means operatively connected to said wheel for actuation by successive ones of said cam members and controlling said latch member.

5. Counting apparatus for counting cycles of operation of a machine comprising a first driven shaft cyclically operable with the machine, a second driven shaft cyclically operable with said first shaft, a count wheel on and having a slip clutch driving connection with said second shaft, a plurality of cam members equally and radially spaced on said wheel and representative of the units of a counting system, a normally retracted stop member biased to move into engagement with and between adjacent ones of a pair of said cam members to stop said wheel, means rotatable with said first shaft and operable each cycle of operation to release and thereafter retract and hold said stop member retracted, an electrically operated latch member receiving said stop member from said means and normally restraining said stop member, an electrically operated holder normally engaging and holding said wheel against rotation, a switch member controlling said electrically operated means, switch actuating means operatively connected to said switch means and rotatable with said first shaft to elfect retraction of said holder and to thereafter release said holder prior to retraction of said stop lb member, and switch means controlling said electrically operated stop member and actuated by successive ones of said cam members.

6. Counting apparatus comprising a first cyclically operable driven shaft, a second cyclically operable driven shaft opcr-atively connected to and cyclically operable with said first driven shaft, a counting wheel on and having a slip clutch connection with said second shaft, a plurality of equally and radially spaced cam members on said counting wheel and representative of units of a counting system, a movable stop member movable from a retracted position to a position engaging between adjacent ones of a pair of said cam members to stop said wheel, first cam means on said first shaft operable to retract and normally hold said stop member in the retracted position, a retractable holder normally engaging and holding said wheel against rotation, second cam means on said first shaft operable on initiation of a cycle of operation to retract said holder and thereafter release said holder prior to retraction of said stop member, a latch member normally holding said stop member in a retracted position after release of said stop member by said first cam means, and a control means operable to release said latch member and operatively connected for actuation by successive ones of said cam members.

7. Counting apparatus comprising a cycling one revolution driven shaft, a pair of counting wheels representative of successive ones of the denominations of the decimal system and mounted on and having individual slip clutch connections with said shaft, a plurality of radially spaced cam members on each of said counting wheels and respectively representative of the digits of the decimal system, a first movable stop member biased to engage between adjaccnt ones of the cam members of the counting wheel of lowest denomination to stop said wheel, a first electrically operable latch member normally holding said stop member in a retracted position, a second movable stop member normally engaging between adjacent ones of a pair of said cam members on the other of said counting wheels to hold said other wheel against rotation, a second electrically operable latch member operable to hold said second stop member in retracted position, means operable to retract said stop members, a retractable holder normally holding said wheels against rotation, means cyclically operable with said shaft initially to retract said holder and thereafter release said holder prior to retraction of said step members, a first switch means controlling said first electrically operable latch member and operatively connected for actuation by said cam members on said lowest denominational counting wheel, a second switch means controlling said second electrically operable latch member, and a switch operator on the lowest denominational counting wheel to actuate said second switch means following a predetermined number of actuations of said first switch means by the cam members of the lowest denominational counting wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,527,661 Stack Oct. 31, 1950 

1. COUNTING APPARATUS FOR COUNTING CYCLES OF OPERATION OF A MACHINE COMPRISING A COUNT WHEEL HAVING A SLIP CLUTCH CONNECTION WITH A CYCLICALLY OPERABLE DRIVEN MEANS, A PLURALITY OF CAM MEMBERS RADIALLY AND EQUALLY SPACED ON SAID WHEEL AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITS OF A COUNTING SYSTEM, A STOP MEMBER MOVABLE EACH CYCLE OF OPERATION BETWEEN A NORMALLY RETRACTED POSITION AND AN EFFECTIVE POSITION ENGAGING BETWEEN ADJACENT ONES OF A PAIR OF SAID CAM MEMBERS TO HOLD SAID WHEEL AGAINST ROTATION, A HOLDER MOVABLE EACH CYCLE OF OPERTION FROM A NORMALLY EFFECTIVE POSITION ENGAGING AND HOLDING SAID WHEEL AGAINST 